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S F~ E ~ I F I C A T I O N
SLAF~ FO~ ELOO~ING_~ND ~EL~TED FLDOfi
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FIELD ~ND B~C~:G~OUND OF THE INVENTION
The p)-esent invention relates to a slab made c.f
elastomeric material and the lik:e ~Ised ~or flc.ol-ing~ and
tc. the related flc.clr cc.mprising a number of said slabs.
In greater- detail the invel~tic.n relates to a ~lab
fcr flooring with areas simulati)lg ~ different cc.lor hue
although they are made of an elastomel-ic matel-ial in a
single cc.lor.
Slabs, plates~ tiles and the lik:e in several
colors used for floc,l~ing wide sul-taces are well-~nc.wn in
the art~
For e~<ample French Patent No. 2~124,827 discloses
a floor made by associati~ two layers of rubbel~ ol
synthetic material of different cc,lour with each c.ther
in a mold, therl fc.rming a number of inlaid pieces in the
two layers associated with each c.ther and finally
removing the elastomeric material from the upper layer
in the region c.f the inlaid pieces so as to show the
color cjf the lowel- layer which is different from that c~f
the upper one.
There are also other solutions which are used,
among other things7 for mats and the like where~ as
describeci in US Fatent No. 2,915~785 for e:amplel a
layer of rubber in which inlaid pieces have been cut is
covereci with a paint of different colcr. The subsequent
grinding of the paint at the top of the inlaid pieces
30 give5 rise to a differentiated colc.r between the inlaid
pieces and the remaining outer surface.
It is also known from US No. 4,731,139 the
accomplishment of rubber floors made by associating two
layers of different colors with each c,ther in a mold for
the formation of a number of inlaid pieces.
Subsequently the prcduct remc.ved from the mold is
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put in a compressed condition between two appropriate
plates and still under pressure is submitted to the
action of a cutting device moved parallelly to the
plates in order to remove the upper layer coating the
inlaid pieces.
It is apparent that all known embodiments require
the use of grinding and cutting tools and in general of
suitable means for taking away some material in order to
e:<pose a color of the lower layer which is different
from that of the upper coating layer~
However the cutting operation coulri give rise to
the formation of uneven edges defining the top of the
inlaid pieces and working swarfs could remain in the
very narrow space e~isting between~ the inlaid pieces,
which would make the~cleaning operation difficult and
complicated in order not to impair the aesthetic
appearance of the product due to the presence of working
waste~ ~ ~
~- further drawback of known proced~res and
2-J embodiments~is given by the~fact that it is necessary to
adopt several rubber compositl~on~s ~for~each single slab
or floor depending upon the different colors provided on
the uuter surface.~
Unfortunately the d~iversif~ication of the
compositions i~n order to achieve the different colors
brings about not~ only different formulations involving
; several tests in order to come to the desired color, but
~ also the subsequent storage of differentiated products
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and as a result the final product will have a higher
cost~
A further drawback connected with known
embodiments consists in that the different color of an
area relative to another could give rise to an
alteration in the course of time of one or more colors
due to the degradation of the material, which could
result in a color being less shown than another to such
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an extent that an undesired visual ~ppearance may be
originated or at all events a visual appearance
different from the desired one~
SU~MAPY OF THE INvENTION
The preserlt invention aims at providing a slab for
flooring and the related floor which are devoid of all
the above drawbacks.
The object of the present invention is therefore a
slab made of a single-colored elastomeric material or
lC) the like comprising a base surface having a
susbtantially uniform pattern and designed to form part
of the floor covering, wherein said slab comprises a
number of elongate reliefs associated with one another
so as to constitute groups of reliefs in which the
reliefs of some groups are dispose~ differently from the
reliefs of other groups in order to reflect the light
acting on the slab in a different manner.
BRIEF DESC~IPTION OF THE D~WINGS
~ The present invention will be best understood from
20- the following detailed description given by way of
non-limiting example with reference to the accompamying
drawings, in which:
- Fig~ 1 is a plan view of a slab portion in accordance
with the inventioni
- Figs. 2 and ~ are exemplifications of different color
hues which the slab shown in Fig. I can take when two
persons are looking at it from two opposite positions
and the slab is submitted to the action of light.
DESCPIPTION OF THE PPEFEPPED E~BODI~ENTS
3~ Shown in Fig~ 1 and identified by reference
numeral 1 is a slab portion designed to form a floor,
together with other slabs, for e<ample and among other
things in a civilian or industrial building or to cover
the floor in a conference halll a waitin~ room or public
premises in general.
The slab 1 is made of a viscoelastomeric material
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in a single color.
Hereinafter by the term ~iscoelastomel-ic
m~terial it is intended tG refer to all mater-ials
normally used or- which can be ~sed fcl- ~ncwn flocrirlgs?
such as elastomeric~ poly~lrethane~ thermoplastic
materials and the like.
The slab 1 made of an elastomeric ccmpcsition in a
dark color is ccmprised of a squar~e-shaped base surfa~e
2 and a number of elongate reliefs 3 in the form of
longitudinal ribs plciecting fr~m the slab surface~
Fundamental features of the inventicln are both the
formation of groups of reliefs 3 and the arrangement clf
some of said groups so that the reliefs includt?d ther-ein
have different orientations than the reliefs of othel-
groups in crder to reflect the light actir-g on the slab
in a different manner.
The solution shown in Fig~ 1 and relating to one
of the possible embodiments based on the above general
principle consists in forming a plur-ality of groups
identified by reference numerals 4 to 12.
Groups 5,11 and 7?~? disposed at the end points of
the perpendicular aKes b and b include reliefs 3 which
are inclined in the same direction and sense relative to
axis a, whereas groups 4~12 and 6? 1~ disposed at the end
points of the diagonals c and d include reliefs 3 with
croçsed directions with respect to those of the
preceding reliefs anJ pr-efer-ably the reliefs at the end
points of axes a and b and those on diagonals c and d
are symmetrically inclined to one another with respect
to axis a.
In another preferred embodiment the slab 1 shown
in Fig~ I comprises a central group 8 formed with
reliefs 3 disposed in the-same direction as the reliefs
belonging to the groups disposed at the ends of
diagonals c and d.
The different reflectiorl c,f light due to the
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different arrangefnent of the reliefs gives rise, as
e:cplained in the following, to hue variations in the
sinyle slab color.
The slab portion 1 in Fig~ 1 can preferentially
constitute a ba~e module with the pattern repeated over
the whole longitLI~inal and transverse extension of the
slab or, as an alternative form, several modules can be
adopted which are different from one another and which
are repeated on the slab.
1-~ The floor in a form adapted to be rolled up ùpon
itself, can consist of identical slabs or slabs which
are different from one another.
~ ccording to one embodiment, the ribs ~. of the
different groups are parallel to one another, have the
same pitch the values of which range between ~.4 mm and
~ mm, and a height included between (~.2 and 1 mm
maximum, preferably in the range of ~.4 to l~.7 mm.
~ ue to the same height of the reliefs 7 the
appropriate distance therebetween and the reduced height
Z~J of the ribs ~, areas of a predetermined extension on the
slab can be involved in the phenomenon of light
reflection so as to give rise to spots having different
visually remarkable hues~
Preferred values for the angle of inclination
between the ribs of contiguous groups are those included
between 2-~ and 160.
~ ccording to a further preferred embodiment, in
base ele~nent of a square 61 ab of 1 cm side, the number
of ribs can vary from 26 to 3, while maintaining the
7~ thicknesses of the ribs between ~.2 and 3 mm.
The maximum and minimum values of the elements of
a square slab with sides of 5~ and bl cm or twice or
three times multiples and submultiples thereof are given
hereinafter by way of example in connection with the
mo~ule shown in Fig. 1:
thickness of the ribs s = (~.2-1 mm,
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- pitch between ribs p = 1~5-.~ mm,
-height of the ribs from the base surface 2 = (~.5 mm~
- number of ribs per group = 14-2~,
- maximum si~e L in a group = 2~-25 mm~
- ratio between the surface covered with the ribs and
the overall surface of the slab ~ 4 - o.8.
~ s shown in Fig. 1, in a further possible
embodiment the different relief groups are separated
from each ather by stripes or lengths l.~., 147 15 being
1~ part of the base surface ~ which are devoid of anY
unevenness so as to give origin to glossy areas in
contrast with the top of protuberances 16 the later-al
outline of which is parallel to the outline of the
groups of adjacent reliefs~
The visual contrast between the smoothness of the
stripes defining the groups and the top of the polygonal
protuberances can be achieved in many ways, for example
by mak.ing the top of the protuberances dull with
appropriate pressing means such as sandblasting of the
2~ mold parts designed to form the protuberances themselves
or creation of other surface microunevennesses on the
mold parts~
The invention attains the intended aims~
The explanation of the results achieved with the
present invention can be made only through some
hypotheses1 due to the fact that the involved phenomena
which simultaneously concern optical effects on
polymeric~ elastomeric or plastic materials and
geometric patterns in relief on such materials are not
3~j yet completely clear.
In addition it has been surprisingly found that
with a slab as the one shown in Fig. 1 or with similar
patterns1 formed for example with a substantially dar~
or even blac~ composition~ it has been possible to
achieve the result of a different graduation of the same
color in different areas of the slab~
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In fact it has been already known in the art that
black bodies tend to take up the light in a more or less
complete manrler and therefore the optimal r-esult
achieved with the present invention~ as already said,
can only be explained Witll the help of hypotheses.
~ ccording to a possible hypothesis it is assumed
that the direction of the light acts on the slab with a
component in the sense and direction of arrows F in Fig.
1 and the hypothetic reflections of light (in dotted
1~ lines) caused by reliefs ~, as they would appear to two
observers ~ and B disposed at opposite locations as
shown in the same figure, are considered in a merely
diagrammatic and indicative way.
~ccording to the hypothesis done the light ray F
acting on groups 4 and 6 would be somewhat reflected
towards B and hindered towards ~ due to the inclination
of the reliefs ~ which would tend to create shadowed
parts on A whereas the light ray acting on the group 5
- would be reflected towards ~ and hindered towards B by
2~ virtue of an inclination of the r-eliefs ~ different from
that of the former groups 4 and 6.
~ ractically 7 the different reflection of light on
the slab can be summari~ed in the following table
showing:
- at the top~ the groups of r-eliefs 4 to 12 of slab 1 in
Fig~ l;
- at the bottom, by marks + (plus) and - (minus) the
groups having a lighter hue relating to those having
dar~er hues for h and ~ respectively.
4 5 ~ 7 8 9 1(-) 11 12
+ _ + _ ~ _ +
E~ + -- + -- ~ _ + _
In the e~ample the blac~ color used in the
starting composition~ dependirlg upDn the different
~5 effects of the light reflection on the differ-ent
reliefs~ takes hues under some circumstances which are
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different from black and can go from cold grey to warm
blac~ such as sepia~
The different hues on the slab viewed hy A and
are represented in Figs. ~ and ~ where darker spots are
shown as black stripes.
~ s is apparent from the above diagrammatic table
and from Figs~ ~ and ~ each observer looking at the slab
can see different areas which are disposed in a more or
less alternate manner having apparently a diffe~ent
1~ color and at all events a differentiated visual
appearance.
The variety of areas having different hues of the
same color can be further increased by the optional
presence of protuberances 16 the upper ends of which
have a dull or mat appearance as compared with the
relief groups which are very 9105sy.
It is clear that the invention overcomes the
drawbacks of the ~nown art~
In fact by adopting a single-colored composition
2~ in order to accomplish a flooring surface having
differentiated color shades or hues as above explained~
the complicated different formulations and subsequent
tests which are necessary for known slabs where several
multi-colored compositions are used, are avoided~
2~ In addition the present single-colored slab keeps
unchanged in the course of time the differentiation of
hue between different areas although it may be submitted
to alterations in the long run, whereas in known slabs
the degradation of a single color in a given composition
with respect to another contiguous color could give rise
to an unacceptable aesthetic alteration.
It is to be pointed out that the present slab and
the related floor are products which can be accomplished
merely by molding~ In fact no further mechanical
~-, operations are needed such as the cutting end removal of
elastomeric material, which operations were necessary in
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the known art in order to show a color which was
disposed under the outer surface.
Therefore, the product of the present invention
does not e~hibit working impurities between the reliefs
~ of the different groups, which results in a sure
aesthetic acceptability of the exposed surface~
The inventive slab has been described and shown in
Fig. 1 in connection with a group of reliefs having
different orientations and a given distance from each
1-~ other, but many variations to this embodiment are
possible.
In fact the base module shown in Fig~ 1 or even
part of it could constitute a defined area of the slab
base surface leaving the remaining portion of the slab
with a smooth surface or optionally wlth a coa~ial
distribution of granules and the like so as ~o form
surface unevennesses~
Generally a slab comprises at least two areas, one
of which with a base module adapted to give origin to
2~ the light reflection conditions as above explained. Then
the slab can be associated with other slabs according to
appropriate combinations so that the areas whirh in each
slab are provided with reliefs may give rise, from a
visual point of view~ to a different hue of the same
color on the floor surface.
~ lthough some preferred and alternative
embodiments have been shown and described the invention
is not limited thereto and thereby and all modifications
accessible to a person skilled in the art are intended
3~ as falling within the scope of the inventive idea.
For example the slab could be comprised of relief
groups different from those shown in Fig~ 1, in
particular the slab could include a base module
consisting of three relief groups disposed at the
~5 vertices of a triangle, at least one of said groups
having a pattern different from that of the other
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groups~
Furthermore the reliefs could be joined together
according to groups defined by a polygonal contour
different from that shown in Fig 1: it could be for
example an octagonal, circular~ square or elliptic
contour~ Optionally the reliefs of the individual groups
could be fDrmed with curvilinear lengths either parallel
to each other or not and/or mi~ed, that is ourvilinear
and rectilinear lengths.
1-~ In particular it is pointed out that the
arrangement of the different graups with reliefs
different from one another could be carried out so as to
create, through differentiated chromatic effects,
different patterns representing objects, persons,
landscapes, trees, flowers and the like.
h variant form could consist of a slab the base
surface of which has a uniform pattern and represents
drawings formed with cylindrical inlaid pieces as
already known and in which, according to the
2~ characteristics of the invention, the top of said
cylindrical inlaid pieces is provided with reliefs
oriented according to the above explanations~
Still according to a preferr-ed embodiment, a slab
can be conceived in which the base module, of a
substantially quadrangular shape, has relief groups on
the diagonals which are oriented according to one
diagonal and relief groups on the central axes which are
oriented according to the other diagonal.
In a further embodiment the slab margins could be
comprised of a stripe extending along the contour sides
and having an appropriate dullness obtained in the mold
in order to create an appearance in contrast with the
greater smoothness of the remaining base surface. ~y
adopting this solution the delimitations between the
~5 different slabs disposed in side by side relation in
order to form the floor would be less visible~
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The slabs of the invention can be produced in a
mold or a rolling press in which one of the surfaces in
contact with the material must be provided with a
~rawing or pattern corresponding to the one it is wished
to ma~e visible on the finished product.
The product can be obtained either in the form of
individual slabs or in rolls of different lengths
including a plurality of slabs already associated with
one another~
1~ Included within the scope of the invention are
elongate reliefs in the form of a number of asperities,
unevennesses and the like aligned according to a
preferential direction so as to give rise to said
reflections of light~
As well as the above mentioned dark colors, the
slab could also include light colors in which the
reliefs are disposed in the above e.<plained manner.
~ ccording to a further embodiment the slab could
have drawings on both sides a~nd in this case it will be
2~ necessary to provide the upper and lower portions of the
mold with the corresponding drawings. With this solution
the user can choose between two different surfaces or in
case of wear of one surface he can use the opposite one
with the same drawing or a different one~
In particular further features adapted to an
increase sf the play of light reflections on the slab
could be represented by particular working steps carried
out sn the starting composition and during the molding
procedure and tending to give a smooth appearance to the
~J surface of the various relief groups on the slab.
~ further impor-tant advantage of the invention is
the antislipping feature offered by this slab as a
result of the presence of a number of reliefs as
previously described in the different embodiments~
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